How safe is Nimesulide?

Answered by: Dr Andrew Herxheimer | Clinical Pharmacologist, London

Q:I give my daughter Nimulid syrup (containing Nimesulide) whenever she has high fever. I want to know that if this will harm her liver in the long run. Please guide me and suggest a suitable remedy so that what ever damage has been done could be minimized.

A:You are right to be concerned about this. The risk of liver damage from Nimesulide is unacceptably high. Not only has it been banned in Finland and Spain, but most countries with rigorous drug regulation have never licensed it. So it is not available in the UK, USA, Scandinavia and many other countries. To bring down fever in children, Paracetamol is the best medicine.